Separation of church and state

America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of Godfrom the affairs and actions of state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledged God in their state constitutions:

Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invokingthe favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish thefollowing Constitution ...

Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and tothose who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ...

Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, gratefulto Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...

Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas,grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form ofgovernment ...

California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California,grateful to Almighty God for our freedom .

Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profoundreverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe ...

Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledgingwith gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy...

Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, bynature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according tothe dictates of their consciences ...

Florida 1885, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, gratefulto Almighty God for our constitutional liberty ... establish thisConstitution ...

Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying uponprotection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish thisConstitution ...

Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for DivineGuidance ... establish this Constitution .

Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful toAlmighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings ...

Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois,grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious libertywhich He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for ablessing on our endeavors

Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, gratefulto Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form ofgovernment

Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful tothe Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling ourdependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings ... establishthis Constitution ...

Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religiousliberties

Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana,grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religiousliberties we enjoy ...

Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine . acknowledging withgrateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe inaffording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction .

Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland,grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty .

Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts,acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislatorof the Universe... in the course of His Providence, an opportunity ...and devoutly imploring His direction ...

Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan,grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish thisConstitution ...

Minnesota, 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota,grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring toperpetuate its blessings .

Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in conventionassembled, grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on ourwork

Missouri 1945, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profoundreverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for Hisgoodness ... establish this Constitution ...

Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to AlmightyGod for the blessings of liberty . establish this Constitution ...

Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful toAlmighty God for our freedom ... establish this Constitution .

New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has anatural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictatesof his own ... conscience ...

New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey,grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hathso long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on ourendeavors

New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful toAlmighty God for the blessings of liberty ...

New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York,grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure itsblessings .

North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of NorthCarolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for... our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging ourdependence upon Him for the continuance of those ...

North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful toAlmighty God for the blessings of civil and religious lliberty, doordain...

Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful toAlmighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote ourcommon ...

Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in orderto secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this ...

Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall besecure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to thedictates of their consciences .

Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful toAlmighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, andhumbly invoking His guidance .

Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island... grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty whichHe hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing...

South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of the State of SouthCarolina ... grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establishthis Constitution ...

South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful toAlmighty God for our civil and religious liberties ... establish thisConstitution ...

Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural andindefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates oftheir conscience ...

Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas,acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God ...

Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we... establish this Constitution ...

Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to . enable theindividuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and otherblessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man .

Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which weowe our Creator ... can be directed only by Reason ... and that it isthe mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love andCharity towards each other ...

Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington,grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, doordain this Constitution ...

West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoythe blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the peopleof West Virginia ... reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance uponGod ...

I don't believe in the seperation

of church and state and believe it has opened up pandoras box of eroding alot of things most Americans hold dear .

There is no "separation of church and state"!

This response submitted by 458okie on 03/04/2004 at 22:43. ( ) 205.188.209.76

If you read it, it is actually an "establishment" clause, not a separation clause, protecting citizens from a state endorsed church and therefore protecting religious freedom.

That's what I get out of it. Just my two cents.

Actually there is

This response submitted by Ben on 03/12/2004 at 21:02. ( ) 206.162.214.11

but not in the Constitution. You see the government is trying to kick God out of everything, ten commandments beingthrown out of courthouses, God and prayer kicked out of schools,trying to get "under God" out of the pledge and off our FRN'S"federal Reserve Notes" not money. It seems the governmentdoesn't want anything to do with God,BUT they want to put their nose in chuch matters as of the 501c3 incorperation.Churches need to learn about their 501c3 tax exempt status.The church is TAX IMMUNE, believe it or not. Thank God for the unregistered chuches. May God have mercy on this baby murdering,FAGGOT infested, wicked,and sinful nation and people! "The wicked shall be turned into hell and ALL nations thatforget God." psalms 9:17 "I tell you,nay;but, exept ye REPENT ye shall all likewiseperish." Luke 13:3 KJ 1611

Separation of Church, Inc. and State?

This response submitted by kirkguardian on 03/20/2004 at 23:33. ( ) 12.10.79.42

Most churches in America have organized as "incorporated 501c3 tax-exempt religious organizations." This is a fairly recent trend that has only been going on for about fifty years. Churches were only added to section 501c3 of the tax code in 1954. We can thank Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson for that. Johnson was no ally of the church. As part of his political agenda, Johnson had it in mind to silence the church and eliminate the significant influence the church had always had on shaping "public policy."

Although Johnson proffered this as a "favor" to churches, the favor also came with strings attached (more like shackles). One need not look far to see the devastating effects 501c3 acceptance has had to the church, and the consequent restrictions placed upon any 501c3 church. 501c3 churches are prohibited from addressing, in any tangible way, the vital issues of the day. The 501c3 has had a "chilling effect" upon the free speech rights of the church.

Did the church ever need to seek permission from the government to be exempt from taxes? Were churches prior to 1954 taxable? No, churches have never been taxable. To be taxable one would first need to be under the jurisdiction and therefore under the taxing authority of the government. The First Amendment clearly places the church outside the jurisdiction of the civil government: "Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Religion cannot be free if you have to pay the government, through taxation, to exercise it. Since churches aren't taxable in the first place, why do so many of them go to the IRS and seek permission to be tax-exempt? It's illogical.

Most churches also incorporate. At law a corporation is "a creature of the State," and "the State is sovereign over all corporations." Not only are there immense legal ramifications, there are also huge theological ramifications to any church incorporating. By definition an incorporated church is a State-Church. Is that what Christ came to earth to establish?

People go on about a "separation of church and state." Yet most churches today aren't acting like they're separate from the state at all. They act like they're subordinate to the state. They act like they need the permission of the state to function.

Surely this cannot be deliberate, but must be based upon gross ignorance of the law. It also seems to be based upon, "Everyone else is incorporating and getting their 501c3. Guess we'd better do it too." Just because everyone else is doing it, does that make it right?

What is the tax law regarding churches? According to the IRS, "churches are automatically tax-exempt and tax-deductible" without ever having to apply for 501c3 status.

Not only is 501c3 status unnecessary for any church, when a church becomes a 501c3 they place themselves under the regulatory control of the IRS, and all the potential threat and intimidation that comes along with it. Why would any thinking pastor want that, when it's not at all necessary? It just doesn't make sense.

Thankfully, there's a remedy. Churches can stop "rendering unto Caesar" those things which belong exclusively to Jesus Christ. For some insight on the issue you might want to check out: http://hushmoney.org